MAY A DIVINE AWAKEN

It’s been almost four years since 16-year-old Marcus Azure last saw his parents, who never returned from a journey to the Northern Lands. Their absence haunts his waking moments and leaves him feeling unmoored. The patches of lighter skin on his hands and around one eye lead some to call him “the Sun Cursed child.” Marcus takes comfort in his longstanding, unconditionally supportive friendships with fellow soldiers Asher, who’s also a Norm, and Darius, who’s a Divine. But their bonds are tested when they decide to compete in the annual Trials to earn placements in higher-ranking squads. Marcus is disqualified from the competition and, following an altercation, he wakes up injured on an unfamiliar battlefield. From here, the book is a tangled web of political intrigue and allegiances. Marcus makes for an engaging protagonist as he embraces his inner powers, searches for his parents, and faces obstacles. A love triangle develops among Marcus, his childhood friend Ayanna, and bakery owner Layla, whose fates are intertwined. Detailed backstories illuminate the characters’ motives, helping to flesh out the stakes of this world. Although it ends on a cliffhanger that may bring readers back for the second volume, the book, which centers on a Black-presenting cast, contains a dizzyingly large cast of characters and gets bogged down with numerous battles among rival parties.